Heel stiffeners

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION CONCERNS A HEEL STIFFENER FOR SHOES. THE STIFFENER IS ADAPTED TO BE FITTED TO THE INSIDE WALL OF A SHOE HEEL SO AS TO RESILIENTLY TENSION THE WALL ALONG TOP LINE PORTIONS THEREOF. THE STIFFENER IS A U-SHAPED STRIP OF SPRINGY RESILIENT MATERIAL, THE UPPER EDGES OF THE ARMS OF THE U CURVING DOWNWARDLY, AT LEAST ALONG PARTS NEAR WHERE THE STIFFENER IS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SHOE. THE CURVE IS DIRECTED AWAY FROM THE BASE OF THE U. A PROJECTION OF PEG EXTENDS UPWARDLY FROM ABOUT THE MID-POINT OF THE BASE OF THE U.

Oct. 19, 1971 5, w| 3,613,274

HEEL STIFFENERS Filed Nov. 6, 1969 //VVEN7-OR SALLY M. WILLEY United States Patent 3,613,274 HEEL STIFFENERS Sally M. Willey, 44 Hampstead Lane, Highgate, London 6, England Filed Nov. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 874,603 Int. Cl. A43b 13/42 US. Cl. 36-68 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention concerns a heel stiffener for shoes. The stiffener is adapted to be fitted to the inside wall of a shoe heel so as to resiliently tension the wall along top line portions thereof. The stiffener is a U-shaped strip of springy resilient material, the upper edges of the arms of the U curving downwardly, at least along parts near where the stiffener is to be attached to the shoe. The curve is directed away from the base of the U. A projection or peg extends upwardly from about the mid-point of the base of the U.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a heel stiffener for shoes. Previous stiffeners have comprised moulded inserts of leather fibre and the like.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate disadvantages associated with the previous stiffeners and to improve both the comfort and appearance of a shoe in wear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention I provide a heel stiffener for shoes, particularly for ladies shoes, which stiffener comprises a U-shaped strip of springy resilient material, the upper edges of the arms of the U curving downwardly at least along parts near where the stiffener is to be attached to the shoe in a direction away from the base of the U and a projection or peg extending upwardly from about the midpoint of the upper edge of the base of the U.

The idea of the invention is that the heel stiffener is fitted into a shoe, particularly a ladies shoe in an approximately horizontal position inside the heel wall or quarter of a shoe, whereby the stiffener serves resiliently to tension the heel wall or quarter along the top-line portions thereof.

Said top-line portions effect a gripping action on the heel and foot of a wearer. This gripping action is preferably combined with that effected by the two resilient arms of the U-shaped strip.

The peg or projection is preferably inclined backwardly relative to the normal direction of the two arms of the U-shaped strip in order to enhance the resilient action of the peg or projection in pulling back and tensioning the top-line portions of the heel wall or quarter of a shoe in which the stiffener is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the heel stiffener showing, in longitudinal half section, the heel part of a shoe in which the stiffener is fitted; and FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1.

3,613,274 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 Referring to both figures it will be seen that the heel stiffener comprises a U-shaped strip 11, preferably made of springy material for example of a springy metal or springy plastics material such as acetal resin or nylon. In any event the strip has two side arms 12 extending from the curved base 13 of the U. The two arms 12 each have part 12a of their lengths curving downwardly in a direction away from the base 13 and terminating in inwardly extended substantially horizontal flanges 14 by which the stiffener can be secured to the insole A of the shoe by adhesives material, screwing or other fixing means.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, each of the two arms 12 displays an arched elevation in which the length of the arm is composed of the downwardly curving part 12a and an upwardly inclined part 12b, respectively remote from and adjacent to the base 13 of the U, with the top edge or peak of the strip, where the parts 12a and 12b merge, adjoining the top-line B of the heel wall or quarter C.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 the two arms 12' are bowed inwardly with respect to one another where their parts 12a and 12b merge and, furthermore, are inclined towards one another in their cross-sections so that the distance between the upper edges of the strip is less than the distance between the lower edges of the strip.

Formed integrally with the base 13 and upstanding from the central upper edge thereof is a projection or peg 15 which is slightly inclined backwardly with respect to the cross-section of the base 13 and the rest of the stiffener. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the peg 15 extends upwardly from the top edge of the base 13 to the top-line B at the rear of the heel wall or quarter of the shoe and the base 13 itself is accordingly disposed approximately half way down the rear of the heel wall or quarter.

When provided in a shoe, as shown in the drawings, the heel stiffener 11 acts not only to reinforce and stiffen the heel wall or quarter of the shoe, but also to grip the heel and foot of a wearer of the shoe and to shape the heel opening of the shoe. As can be more clearly seen in FIG. 2, the peg 15 acts resiliently to pull back and stretch the upper portions of the heel wall or quarter along the top-line B thereof, resulting in the top edges being drawn towards one another and defining straight lines converging towards the peg 15. The peg 15 by thus having energy stored therein serves to tension the upper side edges of the heel gripping portion of the shoe effectively. The wearers foot is gripped by the aforesaid top edge portions of the heel wall or quarter and is further gripped between the two arms 12 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2. The pressure of the gripping is calculated to be comfortable to the wearer while maintaining the shape of the shoe.

I claim:

1. A heel stiffener for a shoe, said stiffener being formed from a springy resilient material and comprising a curved base; a pair of spaced side arms connected to said base and adapted to extend along opposite sides of a heel-gripping portion of a shoe, each said side arm extending in a curve first upwardly away from said base to a peak, then downwardly away from said base and terminating in an inturned flange; and a projection positioned medially of said base and extending upwardly therefrom to substantially the level of each said peak.

2. A heel stiffener according to claim 1 wherein said projection is inclined rearwardly away from said side arms.

3. A heel stiffener according to claim 1 wherein said projection is integral with said base and said material is an acetal resin.

4. A heel stiffener according to claim 1 wherein said side arms in the region of said peaks curve inwardly towards one another.

5. In combination with a shoe having a heel-gripping portion and an insole; a heel stiifener formed from a springy resilient material and comprising a curved base extending around the rear of said heelgripping portion, a pair of spaced side arms connected to said base and extending along opposite sides of said shoe from the rear thereof, each said side arm extending in a curve first upwardly away from said base to a peak adjacent a top edge of said shoe and then downwardly and terminating in an inturned flange, each said inturned flange being secured to said insole, and a projection provided medially of said base and extending upwardly to substantially said top edge of said shoe, said projection having energy stored therein and serving to tension the upper side edges of said heel-gripping portion of said shoe.

4 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein each said side arm in the region of said peak thereof curves inwardly towards the other side arm to cause the upper side portions of said shoe to grip a foot of a wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,111,188 9/1914 Simpson 3658.5 1,793,380 2/1931 Stone 3658.5 X 2,024,729 12/1935 Gustin 36-58.5 X 2,522,681 9/1950 Leonard 36-58.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,088,685 10/1967 Great Britain 36-58.5 324,152 1/1935 Italy 3658.5

ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 365 8.5 

